Nutritional Support Program

Food with Dignity: APLHIV’s Lifeline for People Living with HIV in Pakistan

In a country where survival itself is a daily challenge for many, people living with HIV (PLHIV) often face a double burden: managing chronic illness while navigating stigma, social exclusion and the crushing weight of poverty. For them, food is not just nourishment; it is a critical part of treatment, dignity and survival.

Since 2018, the Association of People Living with HIV (APLHIV)—with continued support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM)—has been leading one of Pakistan’s most far-reaching, community-driven food support programs. This initiative now supports 9,000 PLHIV across the country, offering hope, health and a sense of belonging.

The quarterly food packages, delivered directly to the doorsteps of beneficiaries, are composed of nutritionally balanced staples— including flour, rice, a mix of pulses and cooking oil—carefully selected to support the dietary needs of PLHIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART). APLHIV ensures quality at every stage through verified suppliers, hygienic packaging practices and monitoring protocols that uphold consistency and safety across all regions of delivery.

Beneficiaries for this program are nominated directly by ART centers and provincial HIV control programs based on medical need, socioeconomic status and vulnerability. These nominations undergo an independent verification process by APLHIV to ensure that support reaches the most marginalized and economically disadvantaged individuals. This layered approach reinforces transparency, fairness and accountability, ensuring that there is no bias in selection and that the dignity of recipients is upheld throughout the process.

Crucially, the program is not merely about delivery, it is about care, respect and deep community engagement at every step. APLHIV’s dedicated Care & Support Team oversees the entire process: from procurement and packing to distribution and post-delivery follow-up. Beneficiaries are contacted via telephone to confirm delivery, assess satisfaction and collect feedback that is actively used to improve future distributions. This approach ensures that the voices of PLHIV are not only heard but help shape the support they receive, reinforcing dignity, responsiveness and community ownership.

From the snow-laced peaks of Kashmir and cloud-kissed valleys of Chitral, to the windswept plateaus of Kech, the highlands of Qilla Abdullah, and the mountain passes of Gilgit-Baltistan—this program reaches Pakistan’s most remote corners. Food packages have been delivered to Waziristan’s rugged hills, the sun-scorched deserts of Tharparkar and Cholistan, interior Sindh’s floodplains, Punjab’s agrarian heartlands, enclaves in Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and outposts like Noshki, Panjgur, and border settlements near Iran and Afghanistan—even reaching desert villages and mobile camps where access to care is nearly non-existent.

“At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when lockdowns, fear and uncertainty disrupted access to health & support across Pakistan, APLHIV rose to the moment. Defying logistical paralysis and social isolation, the APLHIV reached 6,600 PLHIV with emergency food support thus offering not just sustenance, but reassurance and hope in times of crises. In a time when many felt forgotten, APLHIV’s swift action and deep-rooted community linkages became a lifeline for those most at risk.”

During the devastating floods of 2022, which displaced millions and disrupted essential services across Pakistan, APLHIV remained unwavering in its commitment to the community. Rising above logistical hurdles, damaged infrastructure and widespread crisis the APLHIV continued its food support program and reached over 4,500 PLHIV, many of whom resided in flood-affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Punjab.

This is not work for the faint of heart. It means navigating terrain both unforgiving and forgotten, crossing mountain passes, arid valleys and political fault lines. Yet APLHIV, guided by its conviction that no one should be left behind, continues to double down by braving logistical and environmental hurdles, and pushing forward with resolve. It is this relentless commitment to justice, equity and compassion that allows the food to arrive at homes where it is needed most and felt most deeply.

This powerful intervention has been recognized nationwide for its:

• Transparency and accountability
• Community leadership and grassroots ownership
• Focus on confidentiality, dignity, and person-centered care
• Measurable impact on ART adherence, retention in care, and improved nutritional outcomes among PLHIV

As Pakistan’s only national network led by and for people living with HIV, APLHIV remains committed to an inclusive, rights-based approach that uplifts communities from within. With continued partnership from the Global Fund, this initiative continues to bring light, nourishment and hope to those who need it most — no matter how distant the road.